Israel Museum 2011 Exhibits

March 15th 2011

To look inside the mind of artists is a fascinating journey into another world.  On your Israel vacation, journey into The Israel Museum. Besides housing the old and the traditional (including the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest Biblical manuscripts in the world, a must see for any Israel tour) the museum also houses very new, very modern, and very thought provoking selections of contemporary artwork.

To look at an artist who took to altering traditional methodology, the Israel Museum brings to the public a fantastic exhibition, on view for the first time, featuring Helmer Larski (born Israel Schmuklerski). Helmer photographed people in what was then Palestine from 1932 and 1948, especially preoccupied with capturing the complexity of the human hand and facial expressions. (Working Hands is consequently the name of the Israel Museum exhibit).

What made Helmer different from other photographers at the time, and set him apart as a premier avant-garde artist, was his unconventional technique of using a mirror to create fantastical highlighted contrasting effects.

As the tale goes, Helmer (then an actor), was hanging around bothering his wife, who was an official photographer. Helmer wanted to try out the photographer reins, and despite his wife’s protests, decided to experiment with lighting, setting his subjects next to an open window instead of using lamps, creating unusual dramatic effects. While his wife did not come to appreciate the results, another photographer, a very well-known and established one by the name of Rudolph Durhkoop, did. And thus, in classic dramatic fashion, Helmer proceeded to abandon acting in order to make photography his life’s work, laying down important foundations for modern photography, the best of which you are privileged to view at the Israel Museum.

For those of you who are into the conceptual and the inquisitive, the newest up and coming exhibition at the Israel Museum hosts an exhibit entitled ““Life: A user’s manual.” Basically, this exhibit’s collection of artists all produce thought provoking works centered around the concept of what they view as Israel and the modern world’s “Do it Yourself” culture. Approximately 50 works, ranging from paintings, sculptures, video works and installations, showcase Israel’s most contemporary artists, who all incorporate this user-manual culture concept into their work. The results- a broad range of humorous, absurd, and ironic artwork that will get you laughing and thinking out loud, as the artist’s question the instruction manual’s effect on human individuality.

On the larger side of things, the Museum will host a 650-square-foot installation from Israeli artist Micha Ullman’s unique sand-throwing technique to create sensational sculptures. This exhibit begins this June.

The depth of artistic talent within the Israel Museum will blow tour groups in Israel away. Guided tours are provided for the general public as well as private Israel group tours.

While touring in Israel, be sure to stop by the Israel Museum for the ultimate artistic journey.

You can keep up to date on the latest up and coming exhibitions, by visiting The Israel Museum’s website at http://www.english.imjnet.org.il